Soldier&#39;s protector.



L. F. SOPATA.

SOLDIERS PROTECTOR. APPLlCATlON my) JUNE 1, ms;

1,274,621. Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- L. F. SOPATA.

SOLDI ER'S PROTECTOR.

APPLICATlOH FlLE-D JUNE I. l9l8.

1,274,621. Patented Aug. 6,1918.

2 SHEE T$SHEET 2:

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LOUIS FRANK SOPATA, OF EAST HAMMOND, INDIANA.

SOLDIERS PROTECTOR.

Application filed June 1, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS FRANK SOPATA, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at East Hammond, in the county of Lake and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SoldiersProtectors, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a protector forsoldiers in the form of a banner that is readily transported to anydesired position and quickly set up for use, the device possessing greatstrength and being easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bullet proof shieldadapted to be set up for use for protecting soldiers from the rifle fireof the enemy and providing accommodations for holding gas masks andammunition, while provision is made for rendering the device portable soas to be quickly and easily transferred from one point to another uponthe firing line.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which likereference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear of the device when set up foruse;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the devlce in its inoperative position fortransportation;

Fig. 4 is a front end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of thedevice taken upon a large scale;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the plate when arranged for transportationwith parts broken away;' and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one ofthe brace connections.

My invention provides a bullet-proof shield or armor plate 10 having astub axle 11 at each end thereof adapted for the removable reception ofwheels 12 thereon and whereby the shield may be easily moved from oneplace to the other. A trough 13 is secured longitudinally upon one sideof the plate 10, being the upper side of the plate when the same ispositioned horizontally upon the wheels 12 as shown in Fig. 3. hen theplate 10 is desired for use as a barrier, the same is set upon edge asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and at Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Serial No. 237,703.

which times the trough 13 is positioned upright for receiving ammunitionand other articles in the compartments ll thereof.

Rods 15 are pivotally attached to the opposite edges of the plate 10adjacent each endthereof, bolts 16 being detach-ably connected betweenthe rear free ends of said rods. lVhen the rods 15 are so connectedtogether by the bolts 16, a rearwardly projecting V-shaped bracket isprovided at each end of the plate 10 for maintaining the lat ter in itsoperative upright position for accommodating a plurality of soldiersbehind the same for firing at the enemy through ports or perforations 17arranged in said plate 10.

Hooks 18 are provided upon the plate 10 above the trough 13 adapted forhanging clesirable articles such as gas masks thereon. After theemployment of the device as a barrier, the wheels 12 may be positionedupon the axles 11 and the plate 10 swung to its substantially horizontalposition while upon removing the bolt 16 the rods 15 are folded upon theplate 10 and will lie slightly restrained or wedged in passages 19provided adjacent the opposite ends of the trough 13. Bow springs 20 aresecured ad jacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the plate 10 uponthe forward side thereof adapted for engaging the ground such as 21 wheneither edge of the plate 10 is permitted to lower onto the same. Aplurality of straps 22 are carried by the opposite edges of the plate 10for convenience in pulling the device in either direction when travelingupon the wheels 12.

The complete operation of the device will be fully understood from thisdetail description of the same when arranged either as a barrier or fortransportation, it being seen that the bolts 16 connect the rods 15together when. the device is set up as a barrier, but said bolts areremoved for foldably positioning the rods upon the plate 10 when thedevice is in its inoperative position. The entire device, excepting thestraps 22 and the wheels 12 are preferably formed of material, the plate10 being bullet-proof after the manner of an armor plate so that theentire device possesses great strength.

What I claim as new is 1. A protector comprising an armor plate havingfiring ports therethrough, wheels detachably carried at the oppositeends of said plate, foldable positioning rods pivoted to the plate whenmounted for transportationupon said wheels. V

2. In combination with an armor plate having firing ports therethrough,.positioning rods pivotally attached to the plate and extendingrearwardly tiereof forming V- shaped frames when the device is set upfor use, a tray secured longitudinally of the plate having transversepassages adjacent to opposite ends adapted for the reception of saidrods when in their folded inoperative positions upon the said plate,ground wheels removably carried by the opposite ends of the plate, pullstraps secured adj acent the upper and lower edges of the plate, andground engaging springs carried by the front side of the plate adjacentto opposite edges adapted for engaging the ground when the plate ispositioned at an inclination upon the said; wheels. In testimony whereofI aflix my slgnat ure. LOUIS FRANK SOPATA.

Copies of this patent may be ebtained rezfive cents each, by addressingthe cemmissiener af'Patents,

Washington, D. C.

